Caster-mounting.



A. H. NELLER- CASTER MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILE-D JAN.25. 1915.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

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TTE SAS PAENT FFTQE,

ALBERT H. HELLER, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, OF ONE-THIRD T0 IRVINGL. EALES AND ONE-THIRD TO FRANK S. BOIES, BOTH OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

CASTER-MOUNTING.

Application filed January 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. NnLLnn, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of F airfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Caster- Mountings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in caster mountings, and the objectof my improvement is to supply for the legs of washing-machine tubs,mechanics work benches, stoves, articles of furniture or the like, meansfor movably seating and detachably securing casters thereon, adapted forconvenient use in either placing the casters in operative location belowand with relation to the article supported, but which may also bereadily returned to their initial position, when it is desired to havethe article stand unsupported by the casters. This object I haveaccomplished by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed,and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of my improved caster mountings, assecured upon the leg of a tub or other article, and in a position wherethe caster is below the level of the leg, but as yet not secured theretoby the detachable fastening-means. Fig. 2 is a like front elevation ofsaid device, showing the caster elevated with relation to said leg andthe latter resting unsupported thereby. Fig. 3 is a like elevation ofthe device with the caster secured to said leg by the detachablefastening-means, and supporting said leg detachably. Fig. 4: is a sideelevation of said device. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 6 isa front elevation of the slideway of said device. Fig. 7 is a mediallongitudinal section of said slideway.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

My improved caster-mounting is primarily intended for use on the legs ofa tub or washing-machine, but may be as conveniently and appropriatelyemployed on any article of furniture or supported body.

The numeral 14 denotes the lower part of a leg or support of a tub orother body. Upon this leg a casting is detachably se- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 191.5.

Serial No. 4,265.

cured by means of screws 13 or other fastening means passed throughorifices 7 and 8 in lugs or ears 1 and 5, the orifice 7 passingcentrally through a cylindrical boss 4 on the ear 1. Said casting has ahollow part 2 raised above the level of the leg 14, and provided with avertically arranged deep groove or slot 3 terminating just above thelower sloped part 6 whose lower horizontal edge serves as means forregistering the bottom of the casting with the lower end of said leg.The casting also has integral pointed studs on its reverse face adaptedto be driven into the abutting face of the leg 14: to aid in preventingsidewise movement of the casting.

The numeral 12 denotes a slide se'ated within the hollow of said castingand having a shank or bracketed part 11 extending outwardly through theslot 3 and carrying a tubular bearing 19 on its outer end. The interiorbore of said bearing is open at the bottom, closed at the top, andreceives the spindle 28 'of the forks 20 of a caster-Wheel 21 rotatably.The uper end of said spindle is headed on the sides and has a pointedhead which carries the full weight of the supported body, and beingpointedly pivoted, makes a free and easy moving swivel at 25 and anopening 26 formed in the bearing 19 leaves a tongue-part 27 adapted tobe sprung inwardly under said head to retain the spindle in the bearing,without interfering with its rotation or rocking horizontally therein.

The slide bracket has also an integral es cutcheon or plate 15, onelateral edge of which is formed into detents 16 and 18 inclosing an openslot 17, an elongated depending swinging pawl 23 is suspended pivotallyon the boss 4 of said casting and retained thereon by a washer 22 and ascrew 13. This pawl has its lower end formed into an offset tooth 24L,and the pawl is located to hang adjacent to the teeth or detents l6 and18, the tooth 24: being formed and adapted to fit into and becomeengaged with the walls of the cavity 17 between said teeth when movedpast it slowly enough to permit gravity to act on the pawl to seat ittherein. In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the positions of the parts of thedevice when the body 14 is lifted, and in which the slide drops underthe action of gravity to its lowermost position, with the caster-wheel21 entirely below the lower limit of said body, and the pawl 23 havingits detent 2 1 located above said slide to rest upon the inclined upperedge of said tooth 16. y

In Fig. 2 is shown the positions of the parts of the device when the leg14 is resting directly upon the supportingsurface, with the slide andcaster pushed to their uppermost limits of movement, the pawl 23 havingits tooth 21- below and disengaged from the teeth 16 and 18. Thisposition may be effected when the parts are as in Fig. 1, by

. dropping the supported body 14 rapidly so that the pawl 23 slides andbounces off from the sloping upper edge of the detent 16, so that whileswinging outwardly it simultaneously passes the cavity 17 before it hasa chance to swing back and enter it.

In Fig. 3, the detent 24: of said pawl is shown engaged in said cavity17. This is effected by lowering the leg 14 from its position in Fig. lslowly which permits the pawl to move easily over the tooth 16 withoutswinging, so that by the action of gravity, its tooth 2-1 drops into thecavity 17, and the leg is fixedly supported upon the caster 21thereunder.

WVhen the several legs of a tub or other article are thus equipped, thesame may be tilted so as to cause the caster mount on each leg to beacted upon separately, with a minimum of effort, and very conveniently.

Having described my invention, what I moved past it relatively slowly.

2. A caster-mounting, comprising avertically groovedslideway mounted ona supported body, a slide mounted slidably in said slideway and having abearing for acaster spindle, a caster whose spindle is mounted rotatablyin said bearing, said slideway permitting movement of the slidedownwardly sufficient to locate the caster below the lower limit of thesupported body,

and means operable by gravity adapted to. engage and hold the said slidein its lower limit of movement when the slide is dropped past said meansat a relatively low rate of speed.

Signed at Fairfield, Iowa, this 5th day of January 1915.

v ALBERT H. NELLER. Witnesses 7 JOHN F. READY, JAMES A. SHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

